Sprinkler



NOV. 25, 1952 g JEPSQN 2,619,381

SPRINKLER Filed April 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. Ivar Jepson Nov. 25, 1952 1. JEPs N SPRINKLER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 20. 1949 mmvrozc Ivar Jepsorz/ 4 2 \z Patented Nov. 25, 1952 SPRINKLER Ivar Jepson, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 88,507

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinklers particularly adapted for watering lawns, gardens, golf courses and the like. Specifically the present invention is in the nature of an improvement on United States Letters Patent 2,335,281 J epson assigned to the same assignee as the present in vention.

Rotary reaction type sprinklers have been extensively employed for sprinkling lawns and the like and such prior type of sprinklers have in the main comprised a plurality of discharge nozzles or jet delivery devices arranged in spaced relation to a rotary head, usually in substantially balanced relation at the opposite sides of the axis about which the nozzles revolve. In the majority of these sprinklers no adjustment of the area covered by the sprinkler was possible and any control in this direction was had solely by controlling the amount of water supplied to the sprinkler which was unsatisfactory even at best. In the above mentioned Jepson patent there is disclosed and claimed a sprinkler in which by the adjustment of a single dial the area covered by the sprinkler is readily controllable in a simple and expeditious manner. This type of sprinkler has come into great favor in recent years.

Although the sprinkler disclosed in the abovementioned Jepson patent has found great favor, the construction thereof is fairly expensive and it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler having at least some of the advantageous features of the sprinkler disclosed in the above-mentioned Jepson patent and which can be manufactured and sold at a low cost competitive with the unsatisfactory rotary reaction type sprinklers now on the market.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel sprinkler arrangement whereby the area sprinkled upon operation of the sprinkler may be adjusted by simple control means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler of relatively few parts which is easy to manufacture and which will give years of foolproof and satisfactory service.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the persent in- 2 vention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section through a lawn sprinkler embodying the present invention with the sprinkler set for distributing water over an area of minimum extent;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lawn sprinkler shown in Fig. 1, assuming Fig. 1 shows the complete construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 1 illus trating the adjustable means at a different setting from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat schematic diagram to aid in explaining an improved dial arrangement embodied in the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the modification of Fig. 5 assuming Fig. 5 shows the complete structure.

Although the present invention has been illustrated in the drawings specifically as embodied in a sprinkler especially designed for sprinkling lawns, it should be understood that the present invention is capable of application to other sprinkler arrangements. As illustrated the sprinkler embodiment is capable of distributing water in a uniform manner over a circular area having a diameter of the order of fifty feet for the maximum setting thereof and an area having a diameter of the order of five feet for the minimum setting thereof. It will be understood that these areas of distribution are by way of example only, although an area having a diameter of fifty feet as the maximum area is practical since the majority of lawns are no wider than fifty feet. Furthermore if the sprinkler were designed to cover circular areas much greater than fifty feet in diameter the amount of water supplied thereto through the conventional garden hose would be insuflicient and also the uniformity of distribtuion would likely be impared. Similarly it is seldom desirable to cover areas smaller than about five feet in diameter.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is illustrated a sprinkler generally designated at I!) which comprises a suitable base ll adapted to rest upon the ground and of sufficient area so as to give firm support to the remainder of the sprinkler ID. The base II is preferably formed from a sheet metal stamping or the like and comprises a raised central portion forming a flat surface I la having a suitable opening therein for receiving a fastening means for supporting a hollow upright 12 thereon. As illustrated the upright 82 may comprise a suitable casting equipped with a conventional hose coupling means [3 by means of which water under pressure may be supplied to the interior chamber [4 defined within the hollow support or upright l2. A suitable plug having an enlarged head is threadedly engaged with an opening at the lower end of the upright 12 so as to clamp the base H to the upright l2. It will be apparent that this plug 15 in addition to serving as an assembly means for the base H and the upright 12, also provides a clean out plug whereby any sediment or the like which may accumulate in the hollow chamber 14 defined within the upright 12 may be removed.

For the purpose of rotatably supporting a suitable nozzle carrying head 16 from the upper end of the upright or support 12, this upper end of the support I2 is provided with a bore l2a for receiving therein a bearing sleeve or bearing H, preferably formed of bronze or the like which bearing sleeve may be press fitted into the bore 12a. Rotatable about the vertical axis of the bearing 11 is a hollow bearing stud l8 journaled in the bearing bushing 11, having an enlarged lower end which under the pressure of water supplied to the chamber [4 seats against a combined packing and thrust washer 20. The nozzle head It is provided at its underside with a threaded opening 2| for receiving the upper threaded end [So of the hollow bearing stud 3. Normally the head 16 rests on the protruding end of the bushing or bearing sleeve H, but when water under pressure is supplied to the sprinkler l9 this pressure lifts the stud i8 and the nozzle head 16 thereby substantially reducing the friction when rotation of the sprinkler occurs. As illustrated the nozzle head It comprises a casting defining a chamber 23 therein, and in addition to the threaded opening 2| which is efiectively a water inlet opening, there are also provided a pair of threaded openings such as 24, which serve as water outlet openings for the chamber 23. These openings 24 are adapted to receive therein a pair of tubular nozzle supporting members 26 and 21.

This invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of separate nozzles associated with the tubular members 28 and 21 mounted on the head [6 as will be brought out hereinafter and adapted to utilize the reaction force of the water jet deliveries to cause rotation of the head about the longitudinal axis of the stud 18. It will also become apparent from the following description that means are provided for selectively changing the character of the water jet deliveries. As in the above mentioned Jepson patent this adjustment 1s made by changing the angle of the water jet elevation emitted from the nozzles with respect to the horizontal and at the same time adjusting the direction of delivery angularly about the longitudinal axis of the nozzle supporting members 26 and 27. As illustrated the members 26 and 21 are in effect tubular water conduits which might be integrally formed with the head 16 if desired and each of which have their longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the vertical axis of the upright [2 about which the head [6 rotates. As illustrated the angular relationship of the tubular members 26 and 21 is inclined downwardly with the vertical axis about which the head [6 revolves but the axis of the tubular members 26 4 l and 21 might also be inclined upwardly and outwardly from the vertical axis if desired.

For the purpose of providing readily adjustable means for controlling the area of distribution of water by the sprinkler 10, each of the tubular members 26 and 21 has associated with the outer end thereof a nozzle member 28 which might be formed of a suitable metal or plastic material and which may be press fitted on a tubular sleeve member 29 telescoped with the associated tubular member such as 26 or 21 and threadedly connected thereto as indicated at 39. If a metal nozzle is employed the nozzle 28 and sleeve member 29 may be integral. The threaded end of the sleeve member 30 is preferably notched or slit as indicated at 3| so that the threaded end may be spread slightly causing it to remain at any selected position when adjusted to such position.

For ready manual adjustment of the nozzle 28 the latter is provided with a knurled enlargement 28a or the like somewhat in the form of an annular flange. The nozzle 28 is also provided with an indicia bearing surface 28b of generally conical configuration between the enlargment 28a and the associated tubular member 26 or 2']. A suitable rubber packing 34 may be provided to prevent leakage between the nozzle member 28 and its associated tubular member 26 or 21. The nozzle members 28 as was pointed out above are mounted for limited rotation about the axis of the tubular members 26 and 2'! and each nozzle is provided with a plurality of orifices 38. These orifices 36 are adapted to be disposed so that in r' all positions of the nozzles 28 delivery of water therefrom is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzles and the tubular members 26 and 21. The nozzles are adjustable between the positions shown in Fig. 1, where the setting for minimum distribution is indicated, to the setting shown in Fig. 3 for maximum distribution. Suitable stop members (not shown) for limiting the extreme positions of the nozzles 28 are preferably provided. When the sprinkler I0 is set for sprinkling a minimum area, the orifices 36 are at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzles and parallel to the horizontal. In this position a major portion of the kinetic energy in the water jets is converted to a reaction torque to cause high speed rotation of the head [6. When the nozzles are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the jet orifices 36 are in their uppermost position so as to produce jets which are almost vertical. Actually they must be slightly to one side of vertical in order to produce a reaction torque causing rotation of the head I6. Under this extreme condition there is produced a small reaction torque to cause rotation of head I6 at a low speed. The water will, however, be discharged from the orifices 36 at a relatively high angle so as to travel along a path or trajectory of substantial length, whereas when in the position shown in Fig. 1 the trajectory is very short. It will be understood that the adjustment of the nozzles 28 from the maximum to the minimum setting thereof is less than 90 and as illustrated is preferably of the order of which provides maximum reaction torque at the Fig. 1 setting and sufiicient reaction torque even at the setting shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In order that the operator may know in advance how to get the setting he wants for the sprinkler It], the tubular members 26 and 21 may each be provided with a suitable indicator or pointer to cooperate with suitable indicia 3 3 on the indicia bearing surface 28?). 'It will beund'ersto'od that the indi cia might be calibrated directly in feet representative of the diameter of the area sprinkled if desired.

With movement of the nozzles 28 through an ingle or only 75 degrees it will 'be apparent that the dial scale showing settings for circular areas having diameters of from five to fifty feet will bec'rowded into a very small space and it will be difficult readily to determine the sprinkler settings.

In accordance with a feature of the present-invention a readily readable dia-l arrangement is provided for indicating the 'angular s'ettings of the nozzles 28 which have amaximum angular movement of substantially less than 90 degrees. As illustrated two cooperating dial scales, each e'rxten di ng over a circumference subtended by an angle substantially greater than 90 degrees, are employed for each nozzle. One of these scales is defined by the indicia 33 on the indicia bearing surface 2%. The other scale 38 is disposed on the ends of the tubular members 26 and 27 adjacent the nozzles 28. The circumferential area upon which these two scales for each nozzle are placed are so chosen that the difference between the angles subtended by the circumferences covered by the two scales is equal to the maximum angular movement of the members 23.

The functioning of this improved dial arrangement can best be understood by reference to the 'sc'hematic'diagram of Fig. 4 of the drawings where the scale defined by the indicia 33 disposed on the surface 28b is represented as extending over a circumference subtended by an'angle of the order of 205 degrees, the indicia' being calibrated in feet representative of selected diameters of the circular areas to be covered by the sprinkler IS. The scale 38 on the other hand is disposed on the portion of the circumference of the associated member 26 or 21 subtended by an angle of 130 degrees. Except for the angular extent of these cooperating scales, they are identical. The difference in angular extent of these two scales is equal to 75 degrees or the maximum rotation of the nozzles 28. Any other angular extents of the two cooperating scales may be chosen so long as the difference equals the angular rotation desired for the nozzles 28. The particular setting of the sprinkler i9 is determined by the coincidence of the same readings on each of the cooperating scales. For example in Fig. 4 where the numerals five on each scale are coincident the setting is for the five-foot diameter area corresponding to the showing of Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 where the numerals fifty on each scale are coincident the setting is for the fifty-foot diameter area. The coincidence of any identical numerals between five and fifty indicates sprinkler settings for immediate areas.

With the arrangement described it is necessary individually to adjust each of the nozzles unlike the arrangement employed in the above mentioned J epson patent. If desired, however, a suitable cable or chain connection might be provided between the nozzles 28 so that rotation of one of the nozzles 28 causes identical rotation of the other nozzle. With such an arrangement indicia need be provided only at one of the nozzles and the knurled portion on the other nozzle might be eliminated so that the operator will only adjust the particular one of the nozzles provided with the dial indications.

It will be understood that instead of the short nozzles such as 28 disclosed in Fig. 1 of the draw- "6 ings, that elongated nozzles "of the type shown in the above mentioned Je'pson patent might be employed. Suchan arrangement is disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 offthe drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. As illustrated the sprinkler includes a head it having integral tubular extensions All which operate as outlet openings for the chamber defined within the rotatable head 16. -Actually the members 40 are in effect short nipples which are disposed with their longitudinal axes at an acute angle with the vertical, similar to the arrangement disclosed Fig. l. A pair of nozzles'M and 4-2 are associated, one with each nipple extension 48. The outer end of each nozzle is closed by a screw cap 43 which is removable for cleaning purposes. Each of the nozzles is provided with a plurality of openings or orificesde'signated as 4:1, as and 4a, the openin S. 6 prererably being smaller than the openings '64 and 45 in the same manner as is disclosed in the above mcntioned-Jepson patent. Theends of the tubular nozzles it and 4? associated with the nipple extensions as are provided with an enlarged flanged portion '37 which may have a knurled'surface for ready manual manipulation thereof and which also provides 'a surface for applying suitable indiciatheretofas indicated at 48 "in Fig. '5 of the drawings. This flanged member "4? is adapted to have a portion on; overlappingthe'end of the associated nipple "(i9 'andfa suitable packing member 49 may 'be'di'sposed between a portion of the flange 41 and the end of the nipple 69 to prevent leakage of waterth'erebetween. A suitable indicator or pointer 50 may be formed cneach-of the nipples 45 cooperable with "the indicia 48 to indicate the particular sprinkler setting. A conventional indicator and scale is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. but it should be understood that the improved dial scale arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings may be employed if desired whereby the dial scale is spread over an angle substantially greater than the angular motion of the nozzles between the extreme settings thereof.

In view of the detailed discussion included above the operation of the sprinkler of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The character and distribution of the spray are changed by changes in elevation of the jet deliveries to accommodate small and large areas. When the discharge nozzles are in their most elevated position such, for example, as the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the discharge nozzles are rotated at their lowest speed and distribution of the water over the largest area occurs. Conversely when the nozzles are in the position where the jets leave the nozzles substantially parallel with the horizontal, rotation of the nozzles at the highest speed and distribution of water over the smallest area occurs. In none of these positions however is the water directed downwardly toward the ground and when the nozzles are set for sprinkling the minimum area the nozzles travel at such speed as to produce practically zero water velocity with relation to the ground.

While there have been shown and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the constructions shown and described, for it will, of course, be obvious to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a sprinkler of the rotary reaction type, a pair of relatively rotatable members movable relative to each other through an angle of less than ninety degrees, means for indicating the relative rotative positions of said members throughout said angle comprising a pair of circumferentially disposed cooperating dial scales one on each of said members with the scales adjacent each other, each of said scales having a circumferential extent of substantially more than ninety degrees and the difference in angular extent of said scales being less than ninety degrees and equal to the magnitude of the angle through which said members are relatively rotatable, said scales except for the circumferential extent thereof being otherwise identical.

2. A rotary reaction type sprinkler selectively adjustable to sprinkle small or large areas, comprising a pair of relatively rotatable members movable relative to each other through an angle of less than ninety degrees, means for indicating the relative rotative positions of said members throughout said angle comprising a pair of circumferentially disposed cooperating dial scales one on each of said members with the scales adjacent each other so that corresponding indicia on said scales may selectively be brought into alignment in response to relative rotation of said members relatively rotatable, each of said scales having a circumferential extent of substantially more than ninety degrees, and the difierence in angular extent of said scales being less than ninety degrees and equal to the magnitude of the angle through which said members are relatively rotatable, said scales except for the circumferential extent thereof being otherwise identical, the sprinkler setting being indicated by the particular identical indicia of said scales in alignment.

3. A rotary reaction type sprinkler comprising a support, a water distributing head rotatable about the axis of said support, a pair of oppositely disposed tubular water distribution arms connected with said head and each disposed at an acute angle with the vertical, at least a portion of each of said arms being adapted for rotatable movement relative to said head about the longitudinal axes of said arms, manual means for individually adjusting each of portions selectively to control the area of distribution of said sprinkler, and cooperating markings on each of said portions and on the stationary portions of said arms to facilitate similar settings of the rotatable portions.

IVAR. JEPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,688,390 LanZa Oct. 23, 1928 1,830,448 Steininger Nov. 3, 1931 1,888,223 Frantz Nov. 22, 1932 2,284,916 Tucker Oct. 18, 1949 2,273,956 Hall Feb. 24, 1942 2,311,018 Bahnson Feb. 16, 1943 2,335,332 Wright Nov. 30, 1943 2,539,793 Pangborn Jan. 30, 1951 

